Violence against women and children has been an issue that requires international cooperation and intervention and has been at the forefront of discussions in Central Asia. A high-profile case from Kazakhstan of Bishimbayev’s murder of his wife saw women across the region calling for greater protection. A panel discussion at the Asian Women’s Forum discussed the preventive measures for Gender-based violence and their impact on the socio-economic development. It was highlighted at the panel discussion that in the crime prevention system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan appropriate departments and responsible positions dealing with women's issues have been introduced. Currently, 364 women are working as senior inspectors in districts for tackling women's issues.
Discussion around the reforms and legislative changes for the protection of women in Uzbekistan Feruza Eshmatova, The Authorized person of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and country director for Tajikistan highlighted the changes that have been made in recent years to increase the protection of women and children from violence. Uzbekistan has taken significant steps to protect women from harassment and violence through new laws and support initiatives. In 2019, the "Law on the Protection of Women from Harassment and Violence" was enacted, defining types of violence and establishing mechanisms for state protection and issuing protection warrants.
Further enhancements were made through Law No. 829 in April 2023, extending the validity of protection orders from 30 days to one year. This law also introduced legal consequences for "family violence," "harassment," and "sexual violence," ensuring administrative and criminal liability.
To provide comprehensive support, women's rehabilitation and adaptation centers were established, offering socio-legal and psychological assistance to women in distress. These measures demonstrate Uzbekistan's commitment to improving the protection of women's rights and addressing gender-based violence effectively.
In recent developments, a jury in a court of Astana found Kuandyk Bishimbayev, a former government minister in Kazakhstan guilty of the killing of his wife and sentenced him to 24 years in prison on the 13th of May.
Written by: Sabiha Samar
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